Myrtle Beach 'floating zone' proposals begin Tuesday

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - A proposal to loosen zoning and permits in a downtown Myrtle Beach area is scheduled to be discussed Tuesday.

The area from 6th Avenue South and 16th Avenue North is on deck to be redeveloped and revamped by Myrtle Beach city leaders.

Currently, zoning regulations are pretty strict, which can eliminate some unique businesses from setting up shop right now.

City leaders say they're trying to figure out ways to create some incentive for developers to invest in the area. That's why they are proposing a ‘floating zone'. This proposal loosens up zoning and permitting in that chunk of territory downtown to hopefully bring in more new businesses and therefore more jobs. This basically takes the blinders off, and allows the developer to pitch to the city what the business would be without the automatic denial from zoning restrictions.

Business owners in the downtown district got letters notifying them of the public hearing. It will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the train depot.

A lawsuit filed by a former Florence County student alleges the school district knew a former school resource officer, fired after allegations surfaced he sexually assaulted the minor, had a history of misconduct.

A lawsuit filed by a former Florence County student alleges the school district knew a former school resource officer, fired after allegations surfaced he sexually assaulted the minor, had a history of misconduct.

Surveillance cameras caught footage of a man stealing a bicycle from a home in The Market Common. (Source: Ken Carnesi)

A homeowner in The Market Common wants people to be aware of a theft that happened right on his front porch. He shared video surveillance with WMBF News from two cameras that capture the suspect stealing a bicycle.

A homeowner in The Market Common wants people to be aware of a theft that happened right on his front porch. He shared video surveillance with WMBF News from two cameras that capture the suspect stealing a bicycle.